Wednesday, 27 July 2011

The squad are going to be put through their paces for the final time in Germany today before heading back to London later for their final preparations for the Emirates Cup.

There appears to have been just one injury sustained at the training camp itself, with Theo Walcott returning to London Colney for treatment on an ankle problem. Hopefully it's not too serious but it must be serious enough for the club's medical staff not to want to treat it in Germany and send him back to the UK.

From reading the player's tweets it sounds as though they've had a good time even if they've been left exhausted by the pre-season double sessions. With an evening out at a Japanese restaurant last night, it's good to see the team is bonding off the pitch as well as on it. All be it, without team captain Cesc Fabregas.

And the Spaniard's transfer saga rumbles on for another day. The Daily Star report our deadline for Barcalona to stump up the cash for Cesc is Monday.

I would have personally like to have seen the club made a sign to fans they won't let this rumble on by making a public statement or including Cesc in the Emirates Cup squad. Of course this could still happen. But if our captain stays it leaves him with little time to get some pre-season match time under his belt. After the Emirates Cup double header this weekend the first team have a fixture in Portugal before the season opener against Newcastle on August 13.

The manager must be aware how important this August is for both the club and him. We have five fixtures which could define our season. I realise in previous seasons he likes to go down to the wire with his transfer business, but if Cesc were to leave you would hope he would have his first choice replacement already lined up.

Whilst I'm sure a central defender / left back is on his shopping list as well, I can see him waiting until the final few days of the window to complete this business. Bolton are looking for a hefty £17m for Gary Cahill who is in the final year of his contract. Will they bring the price down if they know he'll leave for free the following summer if Arsene came in with a bid on August 31? Quite possibly.

It seems our contract rebel Samir Nasri will see out the remaining year of his deal with the club and then leave to sign a bumper Bosman agreement next summer, again according to the Daily Star. I would love us to cash in on him now, especially if Cesc is going to stay for another season. However it seems the club's hierarchy are keen on him staying put.

The first Emmanuel left the club yesterday and it was Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who has sealed a move to Ipswich Town in a £1.1m deal with a 20% sell on clause. A nice bit of business for the club. It's a shame JET didn't fulfill his unquestionable potential at the club, but let's hope he gets his head down and does well in tractor country.

I think we can expect further departures from the fringe players within the squad this week. Henri Lansbury seems to be off. I wouldn't be surprised if we were trying to cash in on Sanchez Watt and Craig Eastmond as well.

Finally, Blackburn Rovers appear to be keen to keep hold of Chris Samba, which I don't have too much problem with. If he really wanted to leave he wouldn't have signed a five year deal in January. He won't be able to have his cake and eat it on this occasion.